Stop me if you’ve heard this one: WADA hates baseball’s drug testing program

Ever notice that when pressed to explain the problem with baseball’s drug testing regime, the first reason cited by people from the World Anti-Doping Agency is that baseball doesn’t do business with the World Anti-Doping Agency? WADA chief John Fahey:

“Baseball is the most recalcitrant,” he said, comparing MLB with the National Football League, National Basketball League and National Hockey League among the major U.S. leagues. “You had the Mitchell inquiry and clear and concise recommendations from it and they effectively did nothing.”

In contrast, Fahey said WADA was having ongoing discussions with the NFL about incorporating some aspects of drug testing into a future collective bargaining agreement and have for the first time managed to “get into the front door” of the NHL to discuss the issue.

“We continue to reach out,” he said. “I think the interesting thing is that we are making good progress in ice hockey. We certainly have gotten through the front door. We have movement there.”

I think the HGH blood test is pure snake oil, but WADA believes in it and baseball is the first U.S. league to actually buy in. The fact, then, that this article actually mentions the HGH blood test as a point of contention between WADA and baseball without mentioning that Bud Selig has ordered the test be given to minor leaguers means that either the article’s author, the WADA chief or both are being disingenuous on the matter.

But this is nothing new. The press is shockingly credulous when it comes to WADA, basically acting as its publicity wing, even when it’s being psycho. Last week WADA said it may try to ban caffeine again. They have literally gone after oxygen-use before. And no one in the mainstream press every stops to wonder if they’re loony.

In light of that -- and in light of the fact that baseball has instituted no shortage of tests and procedures as well as continues to add to the banned substance list on a yearly basis -- I can’t see what WADA is complaining about aside from MLB’s unwillingness to let WADA come in and take over its testing program like it does in foreign sports leagues.

I disagree with many of the things baseball does when it comes to PEDs. I am in complete agreement with them, however, when it comes to ignoring WADA.